Turbo transmission



Feb. 15, 1944;

J. JANDASEK TURBOTRANSMISSION Filed May 4, 1940 3 SheetsSheet 1 v INVENTOR BY Josef} 72174 45225,

ATTO NEY5- Feb. 15, 1944. I J, JANDASEK 2,341,921

' I'URBOTRANSMISSION Filed May 4, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. INVEN TOR 7 05675 finahse/Z 'rumao'rmnsmssxon Filed May 4, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 72.96 JZIYJQSEZZ aw 9 4.4 n

ATTO NEY Patented Feb. 15, 1944 'ruaao TRANSMISSION Joseph Jandasek, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Bendix Aviation Corpo ration, South Bend, Ind.,

a corporation of Delaware Application May 4, 1940, Serial No. 333,360 Claims. "(01. 74-1895) This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly to a novel and improved turbo and mechanical transmission wherein means are provided to selectively control the turbo and mechanical transmissions to transmit power in a more desirable manner than has heretofore been possible.

An object of this invention is to provide a turbo transmission wherein means are provided to simultaneously render the turbo transmission inoperative at the time the mechanical transmission is shifted to vary the speed ratios of the driving and driven shafts.

Another object of the invention is to provide manually operable means to close the fluid circuit of a turbo transmission to enable a mechanical'transmission to be actuated to vary the speed ratios of its driving and-driven shafts.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the power transmitted through a transmission in such a manner that the transmission may be shifted into reverse so that the power of the engine may be employed as a brake.

A still further object is to provide means for.

inoperative and shifting a mechanical transmis sion to transmit power at varying speeds, and thereafter rendering the turbo unit operative when the mechanical transmission 'has been chanical transmission has been moved to the sired speed ratio.

A still further object is to provide means for automatically releasing an engine controlling throttle simultaneously with movement of manually operable means to shift a mechanical transmission to vary the speed ratio, accompanied by a simultaneous interruption of the operation of a turbo unit.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope, of the invention, reference being had I for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

simultaneously rendering a turbo transmission shifted to the desired speed ratio whereupon power may be transmitted through the turbo an: mechanical transmissions in a desired speed re 10. Y

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for automatically reversing the direction of power transmitted through a turbo unitupon actuation of a brake pedal whereupon the power of the engine may be employ'ed as a vehicle brake.

, A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for actuating angularly movable vanes to selectively close the fluid circuit of a turbo unit to permit shifting of a mechanical transmission to vary the speed ratio of power transmitted.

A'further object is to' provide mean for closing a fluid channel of a turbo unit by means of: a movable baifle member operably connected to be actuated to close said channel simultaneously upon movement of a shifting mechanism to vary the speed of power transmitted through a me- In the drawings wherein similar. reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a combined turbo and mechanical transmission em bodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view disclosing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a helical cam controlling mechanism for the vanes disclosed in Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the angularly movable vanes of Fig. 3 in three different positions.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional viewshowing a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of control mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-4 of Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating the operation of the vane control mechanism of Fig. 8.

chanical transmission, and to actuate the baiile to render the turbo unit operative when the me- Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the vanes in open position.

Fig. 11 is a verticalsectional view of a turbo clutch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section showing a still further modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illus.

transmission which operates'as a driving i0. The clutch shaft 4. A low speed gear l1 2 trated in the accompanying-drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and his not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, a driving shaft 1 which may be driven by any suitable source of power such for example as the engine of a motor vehicle is provided with an impeller web 2 having an impeller channel 3 through which iiuid may circulate. A primary driven shaft 4 is preferably coaxially aligned with the driving shaft and is provided with a turbine web 5 having a turbine channel 6 disposed in alignment with the impeller channel 3. A stationary housing 1 may be coaxially aligned with a portion of the driving shaft andsupport a reaction member web 8. The web 6 is provided with a reaction chamber 9 preferably interposed between the impeller and turbine channels 3 and 6 respectively.

A second or auxiliary driven shaft ll! of a mechanical transmission is preferably coaxially aligned with the driven shaft -4 of the turbo shaft to transmit power to the driven shaft Ill. The shaft 4 is provided with a pinion gear and clutch member coaxially aligned with the clutch 'member |2 carried by a sleeve l3 mounted on the driven shaft i0.

ially shiftable barrel |4 may be provided to bridge the clutch members II and i2 to directly interconnect the shafts 4' and it to transmit power at a 1:1 speed ratio. A pinion gear and clutch member |5preferably of the same diameter as the clutch member l6 freely rotatable relativ member 4'is operably connected to drive a countershaft preferably operably connected to thepinion gear l5 through an idler gear to rotate the pinion l5 with the countershaft in the opposite directo the driven shaft The turbine channel 6 is provided with a plurality of angularly movable vanes 21 hingedly connected to the turbine web 5 and a turbine shroud 28 by means of pins 29. The angular movement of the vanes 21 is controlled by projections 30 carried by the vanes 2'l and extending into slots formed in a ring 3| axially movable in the turbine web 5 and yieldingly urged to position the vanes 21 in a substantially predetermined angular relation by means of springs 32 in opposition to fluid reaction.

The channel 9 of the reaction member is provided with a plurality of spaced vanes 33 pivotally mounted on shafts 34 projecting from the n reaction member web 8 into a reaction shroud member 35. ,The angular position of the vanes 33 is cotrolled in a manner similar to that of the impeller and turbine vanes by projections 3.6, ring 31 and springs 38.

The reaction member is also provided with a plurality of angularly movable gates 39 carried by shafts 40 extending from the web member 3 'is carried by a ring carried b the shafttion. The barrel l4 may -b' shifted axially to bridge the pinion gear l2 operably connected to the driven shaft in and the pinion l5 driven through the countershaft mechanism to drive the driven shaft ill in the opposite direction to the is splinedto the driven shaft i0 and maybe'shifted axially by means of a shifter fork 'i8 into mesh with a countershaft gear to drive the driven shaft II in the same direction with the shaft 4 at reduced speed.

- The impeller channel 3 is provided with a plurality of angularly movable blades l9 carried by shafts 2|] extending from the impeller web 2 into an impeller shroud 2|. The trailing edge of the blades l9 are provided with projections 22 which extend into a plurality of spaced slots 23 formed in an annular ring 24 mounted in the impeller web 2. Yielding means, such for example as springs 25, may be provided to urge the annular ring'24 to yieldingly urge the blades |9 toward a substantially predetermined angular position in opposition to the fluid reaction exerted by the fluid. circulating in the impeller channel 3. A plurality of dried impeller blades 26 are interposed between the impeller. web 2 and thevimpeller shroud 2| to guide the fluid issuing from the impeller channel 3,

into the reaction shroud member 35. Projections 4| carried by channel 9 to limit the angular movement of the gates 39 in one direction.

,control means comprises pins 42 carried by the gates 39 and projecting into slots 43 formed in a ring gear. The ring gear 44 may be actuated by means of a pinion 45-(see also Fig. 2) to move the gates 39 from the closed position to the open position defined by the stopmembers 4|. The pinion 45 is preferably mounted on a shaft 46 operably connected to a lever 41. Manually operable means the shaft 46 to control the angularly movable gates 39 if desired.

Manually operable means such for example as the foot pedals 49' and' 50 may be provided to actuate the shaft 46 to control the angular position of the gates 39 and to actuate the axially shiftable barrel l4 to selectively interconnect the shaft 4 with the driven shaft III to rotate the driven shaft ill in either forward or reverse directions. The shafts 49 and 50 are pivotally mounted on a stud 5| and are connected through levers 52 .and 53 respectively with rods 54 and 55 with a double acting lever 56 pivotally mo 'nted on a stud 51. The upper end of the lever 56 is bifurcated as illustrated at 58 to receive a-pin 59 operably connected to a rod 60. The rod 63 is provided with a finger member 6| which engages the axially shiftable barrel H of the synchronizer mechanism to selectively interconnect the sleeve |3 with the pinion gears or |5 to drive the driven shaft III in the same direction as the shaft 4 or in the reverse direction.

The link 59 is provided with an arm 62 operably connected by means of a link 63 to the lever 41 fixed to the shaft 46 to actuate the pinion 45 to control the angular position of the gates '39.

In the operation of this device when it is desired to rotate the driven shaft in the same direction as the driven shaft l0 and the shaft 4, the pedal 49 is actuated whereupon motion is transmitted through the lever 52, rod 55, lever 56, rod and finger member 6| to move the barrel |4 axially to bridge the pinion gears II and 2 thereby operably interconnecting the shaft 4 with the driven shaft ill to drive it in the same direction as the shaft 4 at the same speed. The synchronizing mechanism associated with the pinion gears II and i2 becomes operthe web 8 project into the' 48 are provided to. actuate ative upon axial movement of the barrel I4 to synchronize the speeds of the-gears II and I2 whereupon the barrel I4 may'slide over the gear I I to interconnect it withthe gear I2 without clashing of the gears.

In view of the angular relations of the 'arm 62 and the link 63 any movement of the levers 49 and 50 will actuate the lever 41 to rotate the ring gear 44 to move the gates 39 from the closed'position to the open position; Any suitable means such for example as that illustrated at 64 may be provided to hold the levers 49 or 50 in the depressed position to hold the gates 39 in .the open position and to maintain the barrel in operative relation relative to the gears which it is desired to interconnect.

When it is desired to rotate the driven shaft I in the reverse direction relative to the shaft 4, to use the power of the engine as a brake or to drive the driven shaft I0 in reverse, the pedal vided to hold the cylinder I68ifrom' rturningtrelative to the reaction member-I06..yetspe mitting it to move axially relative I ttheretob fielding means. such for example as springs'ijfianandi H. 10, may be provided to urge the cylinder I 68,:toyieldingly position the vanes I21 towarda substantially predetermined angular, position illustrated by the position I1I of Fig. 5. At high speeds and light loads the counterweight I12operably con- 1 nected through the shaft 113 to thevanes m urges the vanes I21.-toward the position illustrated at I14. When the device. is;operating at slow speeds and heavy loads the pressure of the .fluid circulating-urges the vanes I21 to the position illustrated at I15 of Fig. '5.

Upon actuation of the manually operable means to shift the mechanical unit illustrated in Fig. 1 to transmit power to'the driven shaft I0 in either direct drive or reverse direction, the

2011111! I63 operates through the linkage I16 and 50 may be depressed whereupon the rod 55'will oscillate the lever 56 about the'stud 51, elevating the pedal 49 and moving the rod 60 and finger member 6! to shift the barrel I4 out of engagement with the gear II toward the neutral'position shown. Simultaneously with this move- -ment the arm and link 62 and 63 respectively actuate the-lever 41 and shaft 46 to close the gates 39 thereby closingthe reaction channel 9 to render the turbo unit inoperative.- Further depression of the pedal 50 will move the barrel I4 into bridging engagement with the gears I2 and I5 vthereby interconnecting the. driven shaft I0 and the shaft 4 to rotatethe shaft I0 through the reverse countershaftgear mechanism in the reverse direction.

Initial movement ofthe barrel I4 toward the gear I5 actuates the synchronizing mechanism to rotate the gears I2 and I5 at the same peripheral speed prior to engagement of the gear teeth of the barrel I4 with the teeth of the gear I5. When synchronization is complete and the lever 50 is depressed further to shift the barrel I4 into engagement with thegear I5,- the arm 62 and link 63 move out of alignment and actuate the lever 41 and shaft 46 to open the gates 39 in the reaction member channel 9 whereupon the turbo unit may transmit power as a torque converter or turbo clutch.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention which is similar in certain respects to that of Figs. 1 and 2, and corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of-IOO.

In this embodiment the vanes I21 positioned inthe turbine channel I06 may be actuated to close the fluid circuit to render the'turbo unit inoperative to permit the synchronizing device to bring the driving and driven shafts to'the same speed so that the shafts may be operably interconnected to selectively transmit power in forward or reverse direction. The turbine vanes I21 mounted on the projections I29 carried by the turbine web I05 and the turbine shroud I28 may be actuated by means ofthe projections I30 extending into the slots formed in the ring I 3I. The ring I3l may be formed with a. flange I65 I11 to shift thecylinder I68 axiallyto the dotted line position .of Fig. 3 whereupon the vanes I21 are moved to the closed position illustrated at I 18 of Fig. 5 whereupon the synchronizing 25 device becomes effective to rotate the gears at the same speed prior to the time when they become mechanically interconnected. It will be observed that if the manually operable means is actuated to close the fluid circuit and vary the speed ratio between the driving and driven shafts, the accelerator pedal I19 is released by the lever I80 operably connected to the linkage I16. If desired, auxiliary -manually operable means I8I may be provided to close the fluid circult of the turbo unit.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 is generally similar to that of Fig. 3 and corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 100.

40 In this embodiment of the invention it will be having helical teeth I66 adapted to mesh with an observed that the turbine vanes 282 may be fixed to shafts 283 having the counterweight 212 at one end and pinion gears 284 at the other end. The pinion gears 284 mesh with a helical spur gear 285 carried by the cylinder 266. The operation of this embodiment is generallysimilar to that discussed above.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is similar in many respects to that' illustrated in Fig. 1 and corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 300.

It will be observed that in this embodiment of the inventiton a reaction web 388 is axially movable on a helical sleeve. 389 carried by the turbo driven shaft 304. The reaction web member 386 is formed with a channel 309 adapted to be interposed between the impeller and turbine channels when the device is' operating as a torque converter. The channel 309 is provided with entrance and discharge angularly movable vanes 333 and 339 respectively. The reaction web member 388' also carries a free channel 389a which may be shifted into alignment with the impeller and turbine channels by axial movement of the web member 388 under the influence of fluid reaction or manually when it is desired to operate the device as a turbo clutch.

The reaction web member 388 also lcarries a sleeve 390 which may be shifted axially. to close the passage between the impeller and turbine channels when it is desired to render the device inoperative to facilitate shifting of the axially movable barrel 3I4 to interconnect the driven shaft 3l0 with the shaft 304 to rotate the shaft 310 in the same direction or in reverse.

The driven shaft M is preferably coaxially aligned with the shaft 304 and may be interconnected therewith to rotate at the same, speed and in the same direction by means of a. friction clutch 39I, ormay be interconnected by means of a countershaft and reverse gear mechanism by means of a friction clutch 392 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the shaft 304.

Manually operable means, suchfor example as the lever 393 operably connected to the barrel .3l4 through a shifting rod 394, may be provided to selectively interconnect the driven shaft 3|0 with the shaft 304 to rotate said shaft in the same or in the opposite directions. The shifter rod 394 is provided with a cam member 395 adapted to engage and lift a link 396 when the lever 393 is moved to position the axially shiftable barrel 3 in the neutral position. The

link 396 is positioned to engage an arm 391 of i a bell crank 390 pivotally mounted on a shaft 399. The other arm 400 of the bell crank 390 engages a member 30l Lirough a groove 402 with the hub 403 of the reaction web member 300 to shift the reaction web 388 axially to align the sleeve 390 with the impellerand turbine channels 303 and 306 to close the fluid circuit whereupon the barrel 3 may readily be actuated to interconnect the shaft 304 with the driven shaft 3l0 through either of the friction clutches 39l or 392. During this movement of the device the arm 400 of the bell crank 390 and the member 40! move to the dotted line position.

If desired, separate manually operable means 405 may be provided to selectively transform the unit from a torque converter to a turbo clutch wherein the channel 3090. is interposed between the impeller and turbine channels 303 and 306, or to position the sleeve 390 across the impeller and turbine channels to render the device inoperative. The free channel 309a may be eliminated and the sleeve 390 may be carried directly by the reaction shroud member, if desired.

The embodiment of Figs. 8 to 10 is similar in many respects to that of Fig. 1, and corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 400.

It will be 'observed that in this embodiment of the invention the gates 439 'of the reaction member are fixed to spaced shafts 440. One of the shafts 440 is provided with a lever 459 the end of which projectsthrough a pair of spaced members 46! carried by an actuating rod 462. The rod 462 is provided with a collar 463 and a spring 464 to yieldingly urge the rod 462 to move the vanes 435 towardthe open position as illustrated. in Fig. 10.. .The collar 463 and rod 462 may be actuated by means of a mm 465 carried by a rod 466 having a manually operablereverse pedal 461 fixed thereto. The

- shaft 466 is also provided with a manually operable pedal 468 to operate the device in forward direction. 7

Means such for example as an axially shiftable rod 460 are provided to actuate a mechanical transmission of the type illustrated in Fig. l to selectively shift the mechanical transmission into either forward or reverse direction. A link 41! interposed between the shaft 466 and the rod 460 is provided to close the gates 439 to interrupt the operation of the turbo unit operably connected thebarrel 5 is shifted from the neutral posi-- when a mechanical transmission of the general type illustrated in'Fig. 1 is in the neutral position. I when either the reverse pedal 461 or the forward pedal 460 is actuated to shift the mechanical transmission unit into reverse or forward, the cam 465 associated with the end'of the rod 462 permits the rod 462 to be actuated by the spring 464 whereupon one of the members 46| engages the lever 459 to move the gates 435 "to the open position as illustrated in Fig.. 10.

If desired, separate manually operable means such as the rod 415 pivoted at 416 may be provided to actuate the rod 460 to shift the mechanical transmission and to simultaneously actuate the gates 439 of the turbo unit.

Fig. 11 discloses a turbo clutch embodying my invention. Many of the features disclosed in Fig. 11 are similar to those discussed in connection with Fig. 7, and corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 200.

In the operation of this device when a manually operable member such as the lever 593 isin the neutral position disclosed, the projection 595 associated with the axially shiftable barrel 5 urges a rod 596 upwardly whereupon the member 600 is actuated to shift theweb 500 carrying the sleeve 590 axially relative to the shaft 504 to position the sleeve 590 between the impeller and turbine channels 503 and 500 respectively to interrupt the operation of the turbo clutch.

When the lever 593 is shifted further in one direction the axially movable barrel 5l4- will engage'the pinion ill to interconnect the shaft 504 and the driven shaft M0 to rotate it in the same direction at the same speed. When the. lever 593 is shifted further in the opposite direction, the barrel 5 will engage the pinion M5 to rotate the driven shaft 5l0 through the countershaft reverse mechanism in the reverse direction. Prior to engagement of the shiftable barrel5l4 with the .pinions 5 or M5, the synchronizing mechanism associated with the barrel 5 will rotate the barrel and the desired pinion at substantially the same speed. When tion the rod 596 is released by the projection 595 whereupon the spring 513 yieldingly urges the member 600 and the associated parts to withdrawthe sleeve 590 from the space between the impeller and turbine channels 503 and 606 respectively. The operation of the device as a turbo clutch is then resumed, and power is transmitted to the driven shaft 5l0 at the desired speed ratio and in the desired direction of rotation.

Figs. 12 and 13 disclose a modified form of the invention wherein the turbo circuit is closed when it is desired to shift a mechanical transmission to vary the 'speedor direction of rotation of a driven shaft relative to a driving shaft. In'this embodiment of the invention the reaction gates 639 are closed by means of a linkage comprising a lever 65l having a forked endposition'to straddle a shaft 652. The shaft 652 is carried by a sleeve 653 rotatably mounted on theshaft 604. The sleeve 653 is operably connected to each of the vanes 639 hy means of links 654 pivotally connected to levers 655 fixed to shafts 640 to which the vanes 639 are fixed.

When the lever 65! is actuated in the direction of the arrow 651 of Fig. 13 by means of the manually operable member 650, the accelerator pedal 619 is released to interrupt the flow of power from the prime mover, and the gates 639 are closed by means of the linkage 651, 653, 654 and 655,. When the mechanical transmission has been moved to efiect-drive of the driven shaft-at the desired speed ratio and in the desired direction of rotation, the member 958 is actuated in the reversedirection whereuponthe linkage interposed between the member 651 and the gates 639 moves the gates to the open position and the device operates as va torque converter.

It is to be understood that various features disclosed in the different embodiments of my invention may be combined with each other without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1 4

This is a continuation in-part of my ccpending applications Serial No. 7,896,.now Patent No. 2,205,794, issued June 25, 1940; Serial No. 588,163, now Patent No. 2,222,618, issued No vember '26, 1940; and Serial No. 547,256, new Patent No. 2,271,919, issued February 3, 1942.

Iclaim:

1. A transmission device comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a turbo unit having impeller and turbine wheels fixed to the driving and driven shafts, an auxiliary shaft adapted to be connected tothe driven shaft, shifting mecha nism to vary the speed ratio and direction of rotation between the driven and auxiliary shafts, and -means operated by movement of the shifting mechanical transmission having driving and driven shafts, mechanism to operate said variable speed transmission, and means operated by an initial movement of said mechanism to interrupt the operation of the turbo unit during operation of the variable speed transmission.

3. In a combined turbo and variable I speed mechanical transmission for a throttle controlled vehicle, driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine members associated with the driving and driven shafts and forming a power transmitting fluid circuit, angularly movable members to interrupt the ,fiuid circuit, mechanism to actuate the variable speed transmission, and means operated by an initial movement of said mechanism to release the throttle and actuate said angularly movable members to interrupt the operation of the turbo unit during actuation of said mechanism.

4. A transmission device comprising a driving shaft, primary and secondary driven shafts, an

impeller wheel having a fiuid channel carried by the driving shaft, a turbine wheel having a fluid channel carried by the primary driven shaft, speed ratio varying means between the primary and secondary. driven shafts, manually operable means to actuate the speed ratio varying means, angularly movable vanes positioned in the chan-. nel of one of said wheels and movable between a substantially closed position and an open operating position, and means operated by movement of said manually operable means to substantially member and movable from a substantially closed to an open position, a final driven shaft, speed ratio varying means including a neutral or inoperative position interposed between said driven and final driven shafts, manually operable means to shift the speed ratio varying means and means operated by movement of the speed ratio varying means towards said neutral positionto substantially close said gates and to. open said gates as the speed ratio varying means is moved from said neutral position.

6. A transmission device comprising driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine elements associated with the driving and dr'ivenshafts, a reaction member, said impeller reaction and turbine members forming a circuit through which fluid may circulate to transmit power, a final driven shaft, forward and reverse coupling means interposed between the driven andfinal driven shafts, means having a neutral position and two selectively settable positions to interconnect the driven and final driven shafts to rotate the final driven shaft in the same direction or in reverse directions, and means operated by movement of said means from either settable position toward the neutral position to substantially interrupt the fluid circuit to materially reduce the transmission of power and to open said circuit when said member passes beyond the neutral position to either of said settable positions.

7. A transmission device for a throttle con- I trolled vehicle comprising driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine elements associated with the driving and driven shafts, a reaction member, said impeller reaction and turbine members forming a circuit .through which fluid may circulate to transmit power, angularly movable ates in, the circuit, a final driven shaft, forward and reverse coupling means interposed between stantially interrupt the fluid circuit to materially reduce the transmission of power and to open said circuit when said member passes beyond the neutral position to either of said settable positions.

8. In a" fluid and mechanical transmission, driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels fixed to the driving-and driven shafts and forming a circuit through which fluid may circulate to transmit power, angularly movable gates in the circuit, speed ratio varying means having a neutral and a plurality of settable positions associated with the driven shaft, and means operated by movement of the speed ratio-varying means I from any of said settable positions toward the close said vanes when the manually operable I means is actuated to operate varying means.

5. In a transmission device, a driving shaft, a fluid energizing impeller carried by the driving the speed ratio .shaft, a driven shaft, an energy absorbing turbine carried b'y'the driven shaft, a reaction member associated with the impeller and turbine, angularly movable gates carried by the reaction neutral position to actuate said gates to substantially interrupt the transmission of power through the fluid circuit until the speed ratio varying means approaches one of said settable positions.

9. In a fiuid and mechanical transmission for a throttle controlled vehicle, driving anddriven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels carried by the driving and driven shafts and forming a circuit through which fiuid may circulate to transmit power, angularly movable fluid deflecting vanes inthe circuit, speed ratio varying means having a neutral and a plurality 'of settable positions associated with the driven shaft, means operated by movement of the speed ratio varyin means from any of said settable positions toward the neutral position to move the vanes angularly to substantially interrupt the transmission of power through the fluid circuit until the speed ratio varying means approaches one of said settable positions, and means operated by movement of the speed ratio varying means toward the neutral position to urge the throttle toward the closed position.

10. A transmission device comprising driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine means associated with the driving and driven shafts, a member carried by the impeller and turbine elements and movable selectively from an open position wherein power may be transmitted through the impeller and turbine elements as a turbo clutch to a position to substantially close the fluid circuit thereby materially interrupting the circulation of fluid to decrease the power transmitted or to interpose a reaction member between the impeller and turbine elements whereby the device may transmit power as a torque converter, speed ratio varying means associated with the driven shaft, shiftable means controlling the speed ratio varying means and movable able means movable from a neutral to a plurality of settable positions to control the speed ratio varying means, and means operated by movement of said manually operable means from any of said settable positions towards the neutral position to substantially close said gates while the speed ratio varying means is being actuated and to open said gates as the manually operable means approaches any of said settable positions.

13. In a transmission device, driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels fixed to the driving and driven hafts and forming a channel for the circulation of power transmitting 15 fluid, a plurality of vanes carried by one of said wheels and movable angularly from an open position to a position to substantially close said channel, means including a lever to move said vanes angularly, speed ratio varying driving means associated with the driven shaft, manually operable means having a neutral and a plurality ofsettable positions controlling the speed from a. neutral position to a plurality of selectively settable positions, and means interconnecting said member and manually operable means to move said member to substantially close the fluid circuit when the shiftable means is moved toward the neutral position and to open said circuit'to operate the device as a turbo clutch or as a torque converter when said-shiftable element is moved from the neutral position toward either of said selectively settable positions. I

ii. 'A turbo clutch comprising driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels fixed to the driving and driven shafts and'positioned" to form a circuit through which fluid may cirratio varying driving means, and means operated by movement of the manually operable means towards the neutral position to actuate said lever to substantially close said channel and to actuate said lever to open said channel as the manually operable means is moved towards one of said settable positions.

14. In a transmission device, driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels car-' ried by the driving and driven shafts-and mm: ing a fluid circuit for the transmission of power, a plurality of vanes carried by one of said wheels and movable angularly from an open position to a position to substantially close said fluid'circuit,

culate to transmit power, means to selectively substantially close or open said circuit, speed ratio varying meansassociated with the driven shaft, manually operable means movable from a neutral to a settable position, and means operated by movement of the speed ratio varying'means toward the neutral position to substantially close the fluid circuit and to open said circuit as the manually operable means is moved to said settable position. 1

12, In a device of the class described, driving and driven shafts, impeller and turbine wheels carried by the driving and driven shafts and forming a circuit through which fluid may circu-,

late to transmit power, a reaction member associated with the impeller and turbine, angularly movable gates positioned in the reaction member to move from a substantially closed to an open position, speed ratio varyingmeans associated with the driven shaft, manually opermeans including a gear member to move said vanes angularly, forward and reverse" driving means connected with the driven shaft, manually operable means having a' neutral, a forward and a reverse position controlling-the forward and reverse driving means, and means'actuated by movement of the manually'operable means from either the forward or reverse positions towards the neutral position to actuate "said g'earmember to substantially close said channel and'to'actuate said lever to open said channel as the manually operable meansis moved to'either of the forward or reverse positions.

15. In a fluid transmission, impeller and turbine elements adapted to energize and receive energy from a fluid, speed ratio varying means associated with the fluid transmission, mechanism to actuate the speed ratio varying means, and manually operable means to actuate said mechanism and to interrupt the operation of the fiuidtransmission during an'initial stage of the operation of the mechanism to actuate the speed varyingmeans. w

' JOSEPH JANDASEK. 

